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Creative Writing with Miss Mary Mac: A Handbook for Young and Future Authors
Writing doesn’t have to be a chore! This graphic novel guide for aspiring writers will show you how to create your masterpiece.
Authors are artists! But instead of putting paint on a canvas, they put words on a page. Writing coach Mary McInerney (aka Miss Mary Mac) will show you how to use words to express yourself—and have fun doing it!
The writing exercises in this book aren’t what you’re used to! With Miss Mary Mac’s help, you can unlock your creativity, find inspiration all around you, and develop a voice that’s truly your own. When you use your imagination, writing is never boring. Follow the tips in this graphic novel guide and turn the page into your very own canvas.
Authors are artists! But instead of putting paint on a canvas, they put words on a page. Writing coach Mary McInerney (aka Miss Mary Mac) will show you how to use words to express yourself—and have fun doing it!
The writing exercises in this book aren’t what you’re used to! With Miss Mary Mac’s help, you can unlock your creativity, find inspiration all around you, and develop a voice that’s truly your own. When you use your imagination, writing is never boring. Follow the tips in this graphic novel guide and turn the page into your very own canvas.
Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 27, 2025
What a fun, vivid, and accepting way to look at writing creatively!
November 25, 2025
I think this is a good book as a way for young writers to dip their toes into the creative writing process. It had some good tips, though nothing I hadnt heard before, for younger readers it may be the first time they see this type of advice. The illustrations are probably a nice draw to younger writers as well.
I did feel the author spent too much time comparing and explaining other hobbies and careers to compare to a creative writer, which drew away from the topic in my opinion.
I did feel the author spent too much time comparing and explaining other hobbies and careers to compare to a creative writer, which drew away from the topic in my opinion.
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October 27, 2025This book is perfect for teens who struggle with writing because it SHOWS what the writing process is. It's super inspiring for those who already love to write, too. ELA teachers, this is a must for your classroom. It should go without saying that it's perfect for MS and HS library collections.
November 27, 2025
This was an amazing graphic novel! I loved all of it. This is a graphic novel dedicated to the art of language and writing. I loved the start which compares writing with other art forms, I love the seamless inclusion of poetry (from her students no less!) and I love the ideas for how and where to start writing. Super inspiring! Totally recommend for the writing classroom!
July 25, 2025
three and a half stars.
a good read, i wanted more lessons though. more teaching parts. it felt like there were a lot of parts where it was just flat. plus, it was hard to stick with it. it was ok though. just needed more of a story, more lessons, more teaching parts.
pretty good though.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read it in advance!
a good read, i wanted more lessons though. more teaching parts. it felt like there were a lot of parts where it was just flat. plus, it was hard to stick with it. it was ok though. just needed more of a story, more lessons, more teaching parts.
pretty good though.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read it in advance!
June 28, 2025
“Writing is your thoughts—nothing more, nothing less, and yet everything.”
I enjoyed the artwork very much. The drawings were beautiful. The prose used to convey what Miss Mac was teaching us was wonderful as well. I really loved the connection between different art forms, their similarities to writing as an art form, and the descriptions of how other artists navigated their own mediums.
The graphic novel gently carries the reader along as we progress through the story, yet I felt like it passed by so quickly because of the level of attention and focus I had while reading. Miss Mac provided excellent examples of the writing experience. With each section, I could see how a story could be told with one word after another, and then another. Ms. Mac did what all great authors do with their novels: she showed us, rather than told us, how writing can flow from a writer. As readers, we always love this method because it is so enjoyable.
Miss Mac suggested great writing exercises to reignite inspiration. My favorite was one I had never heard of before: the spiral method. I thought this was a great hands-on technique to play around with and try. To me, this graphic novel exists to inspire writers to allow themselves to think, create, and educate themselves more about the writing process—and also about how to connect with their artwork, their writing, and their ideas, while creating a foundation that allows them to grow. Miss Mac expressed and showed many different ideas and shared many of her thoughts about the writing process. There are methods we could all easily attempt on our own. For example, she mentioned creating a writing space that brings happiness and inspiration, and she showed us her writing space as an example.
My one complaint: some of the text with an artistic flair, without the text boxes, was hard to read at times. Personally, I almost skimmed over many of them because they blended a little too well with the artwork.
Overall, this is an awesome novel and I had a great time reading it. 5/5 stars! I really appreciate NetGalley for allowing a chance to read and review!
I enjoyed the artwork very much. The drawings were beautiful. The prose used to convey what Miss Mac was teaching us was wonderful as well. I really loved the connection between different art forms, their similarities to writing as an art form, and the descriptions of how other artists navigated their own mediums.
The graphic novel gently carries the reader along as we progress through the story, yet I felt like it passed by so quickly because of the level of attention and focus I had while reading. Miss Mac provided excellent examples of the writing experience. With each section, I could see how a story could be told with one word after another, and then another. Ms. Mac did what all great authors do with their novels: she showed us, rather than told us, how writing can flow from a writer. As readers, we always love this method because it is so enjoyable.
Miss Mac suggested great writing exercises to reignite inspiration. My favorite was one I had never heard of before: the spiral method. I thought this was a great hands-on technique to play around with and try. To me, this graphic novel exists to inspire writers to allow themselves to think, create, and educate themselves more about the writing process—and also about how to connect with their artwork, their writing, and their ideas, while creating a foundation that allows them to grow. Miss Mac expressed and showed many different ideas and shared many of her thoughts about the writing process. There are methods we could all easily attempt on our own. For example, she mentioned creating a writing space that brings happiness and inspiration, and she showed us her writing space as an example.
My one complaint: some of the text with an artistic flair, without the text boxes, was hard to read at times. Personally, I almost skimmed over many of them because they blended a little too well with the artwork.
Overall, this is an awesome novel and I had a great time reading it. 5/5 stars! I really appreciate NetGalley for allowing a chance to read and review!
October 14, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a writer and as I grew up, I was always trying to find books for writers on how to write. And there are hundreds of books out there and a lot of them are very interesting but a rare few of them were actually written with young writers in mind. This book is the kind of book that I would have killed for when I was a young middle grade reader trying to learn more about writing and how to improve. I also loved that the medium of this story is done in a comic book which I feel like would keep the attention of a middle grade reader more than a big book with a lot of text.
The one thing that dropped this from a 5 star review for me to a 4 was that I felt like there weren’t a lot of firm instructions. I think, reading it, I could see what some of the practices and instructions were but they weren’t obvious enough in the book that I feel like some middle grade readers might read right over them and not consider that those were instructions for things to do to practice. I feel like this was the one downside to the comic medium here.
Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. A very good basis for young writers trying to learn about and get into writing their own books.
I’m a writer and as I grew up, I was always trying to find books for writers on how to write. And there are hundreds of books out there and a lot of them are very interesting but a rare few of them were actually written with young writers in mind. This book is the kind of book that I would have killed for when I was a young middle grade reader trying to learn more about writing and how to improve. I also loved that the medium of this story is done in a comic book which I feel like would keep the attention of a middle grade reader more than a big book with a lot of text.
The one thing that dropped this from a 5 star review for me to a 4 was that I felt like there weren’t a lot of firm instructions. I think, reading it, I could see what some of the practices and instructions were but they weren’t obvious enough in the book that I feel like some middle grade readers might read right over them and not consider that those were instructions for things to do to practice. I feel like this was the one downside to the comic medium here.
Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. A very good basis for young writers trying to learn about and get into writing their own books.
November 14, 2025
Mary McInerney’s book offers insightful strategies for developing a writer’s creativity. The author encourages the writer to find inspiration in the world around them, as well as everyday tasks.
She emphasizes the importance of discovering and cultivating a unique voice. With each chapter, the reader will gain confidence in their abilities and a deeper appreciation for the craft.
Rivkah LaFille’s exquisite illustrations guide readers through a visually compelling journey shaped by the narrative. The artwork transitions seamlessly from the library to the ballet, then to ancient Greece, at one point depicting concepts traced among stars in the night sky. The illustrations introduce diverse individuals—from those collecting shells on the shore to a figure moving quietly down a rain-soaked street to a young girl sampling freshly picked oranges. In a particularly engaging image, the writer pulls her ideas together– in her Supergirl’s cape!
For writers and teachers seeking to develop their creative potential and express themselves more fully, this book serves as an invaluable resource.
She emphasizes the importance of discovering and cultivating a unique voice. With each chapter, the reader will gain confidence in their abilities and a deeper appreciation for the craft.
Rivkah LaFille’s exquisite illustrations guide readers through a visually compelling journey shaped by the narrative. The artwork transitions seamlessly from the library to the ballet, then to ancient Greece, at one point depicting concepts traced among stars in the night sky. The illustrations introduce diverse individuals—from those collecting shells on the shore to a figure moving quietly down a rain-soaked street to a young girl sampling freshly picked oranges. In a particularly engaging image, the writer pulls her ideas together– in her Supergirl’s cape!
For writers and teachers seeking to develop their creative potential and express themselves more fully, this book serves as an invaluable resource.
July 14, 2025
E ARC provided by Netgalley
This is a very pretty graphic novel about the creative process of writing. It's extremely lyrical, and even includes quite a number of poems. It talks about slowing down, observing the world, and writing with great detail. It mentions a lot about the creative process and how writers are artists, comparing them to painters, dancers, and musicians. It's more of an ode to writing than a how-to book.
I'd love to see LaFille illustrate graphic novels; they'd be very popular with my students. The artwork reminded me a bit of Elliott's TASTY and YUMMY, but with softer lines and a more pastel palette.
As far as using this to encourage students to write or to help them with their process, I'm not sure this would be very helpful for students who weren't interested in writing to begin with. There's a lot of philosophy and flowery language. Children who already consider themselves writers will love this.
This is a very pretty graphic novel about the creative process of writing. It's extremely lyrical, and even includes quite a number of poems. It talks about slowing down, observing the world, and writing with great detail. It mentions a lot about the creative process and how writers are artists, comparing them to painters, dancers, and musicians. It's more of an ode to writing than a how-to book.
I'd love to see LaFille illustrate graphic novels; they'd be very popular with my students. The artwork reminded me a bit of Elliott's TASTY and YUMMY, but with softer lines and a more pastel palette.
As far as using this to encourage students to write or to help them with their process, I'm not sure this would be very helpful for students who weren't interested in writing to begin with. There's a lot of philosophy and flowery language. Children who already consider themselves writers will love this.
Review of advance copy
My rating: 3.5/5
This book was very helpful and encouraging for me as an adult who gave up their writing dreams a lot time ago but have now decided to pick up writing again. My public library happened to have this book on display right at the time I was seriously contemplating restarting my writing journey. For me, it can be intimidating to start writing again after all these years, so this book definitely helped ease my way into this abstract art form. I'd say it's great for both young kids and adults.
Some criticism: I can understand the author explaining the other kinds of artists/art forms in relation and in contrast to writers/writing, but I didn't find it necessary... nor accurate (it's because I'm an illustrator by trade and I found myself disagreeing with what the author thinks about painting for instance). But it's minor. Her advice overall and perspective on writing is helpful.
Personally, I don't find the art appealing but it does its job.
This book was very helpful and encouraging for me as an adult who gave up their writing dreams a lot time ago but have now decided to pick up writing again. My public library happened to have this book on display right at the time I was seriously contemplating restarting my writing journey. For me, it can be intimidating to start writing again after all these years, so this book definitely helped ease my way into this abstract art form. I'd say it's great for both young kids and adults.
Some criticism: I can understand the author explaining the other kinds of artists/art forms in relation and in contrast to writers/writing, but I didn't find it necessary... nor accurate (it's because I'm an illustrator by trade and I found myself disagreeing with what the author thinks about painting for instance). But it's minor. Her advice overall and perspective on writing is helpful.
Personally, I don't find the art appealing but it does its job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2025
Creative Writing with Miss Mary Mac is bright and colorful with beautiful art alongside vivid written descriptions. This graphic novel illustrates similarities between writing as an art and other artistic pursuits like music, painting, and dance. It reminds you, as the reader, that your story is important.
We are encouraged to write about things we're passionate about, no matter how big or small. Visualize, brainstorm, use all your senses, and focus on the details. Miss Mary Mac shares strategies to keep your work flowing and reminds us not to expect perfection but to give ourselves permission to write badly. Eventually, our practice and hard work will pay off!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received Creative Writing with Miss Mary Mac by Mary McInerney from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We are encouraged to write about things we're passionate about, no matter how big or small. Visualize, brainstorm, use all your senses, and focus on the details. Miss Mary Mac shares strategies to keep your work flowing and reminds us not to expect perfection but to give ourselves permission to write badly. Eventually, our practice and hard work will pay off!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received Creative Writing with Miss Mary Mac by Mary McInerney from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2025
I am absolutely in love with this book! What a creative and unique way to inspire budding young writers. Presented as a graphic novel, Mary McInerney does an outstanding job of guiding young authors as they learn to write and craft their own stories.
She walks readers through the essentials of storytelling—from discovering ideas to bringing a finished book to life. The illustrations are not only engaging but also make the lessons clear and fun, turning the writing process into an adventure.
As an aspiring author myself, I found this approach delightful and refreshing. It’s a resource that both kids and adults can enjoy, making learning feel playful yet purposeful. Fun, imaginative, and endlessly encouraging, this guide is sure to be read and reread by young writers eager to create their own stories.
She walks readers through the essentials of storytelling—from discovering ideas to bringing a finished book to life. The illustrations are not only engaging but also make the lessons clear and fun, turning the writing process into an adventure.
As an aspiring author myself, I found this approach delightful and refreshing. It’s a resource that both kids and adults can enjoy, making learning feel playful yet purposeful. Fun, imaginative, and endlessly encouraging, this guide is sure to be read and reread by young writers eager to create their own stories.
June 23, 2025
The problem here may have been me, but I expected a book that I could hand to young authors to help guide them through exercises. Handbook is, after all, in the title. Instead, I got mostly a treatise on what it means to be a creative writer, with a few exercises described, but not guided. If I were teaching a creative writing course, this might be a useful core text, but as a librarian, I'm not sure who I would be recommending this book to in my student body. I really do hope that this is released in a way where it's easy to buy class sets, as I think it will be useful in that scenario.
There are some truly beautiful spreads in the text that I would happily buy as posters, though.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
There are some truly beautiful spreads in the text that I would happily buy as posters, though.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
June 24, 2025
Creative writing with Miss Mary Mac is itself a piece of art—beautifully embodying what it sets out to teach. I found myself swaying to its rhythm, in tune with its chords, swept up in its brushstrokes, and mesmerized by its words. It presents the writing process as both simple and profound, clear yet layered, grounded yet full of possibility.
The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, but it’s the writing that truly captivated me. It offers a fresh, intuitive way to think about writing.
This is a wonderful read for students, educators, aspiring writers, or anyone seeking a creative spark. Whether given as a gift or kept as a personal companion, it’s a book that lingers long after the last page.
The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, but it’s the writing that truly captivated me. It offers a fresh, intuitive way to think about writing.
This is a wonderful read for students, educators, aspiring writers, or anyone seeking a creative spark. Whether given as a gift or kept as a personal companion, it’s a book that lingers long after the last page.
April 19, 2025
This is a simple introduction to the joys of creative writing. I have been teaching a high school class on creative writing and this graphic novels touches on some of the topics that I cover as well as a few others in a very relatable graphic novels touches on format. I thoroughly enjoyed the book because it discussed how writing is an art form, and used metaphors to beautifully explain it. The format is so easily accessible that I know I will get it for my classroom library, but will probably want to use it in class as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC. My opinions are my own, and I can’t wait to share it with my students.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC. My opinions are my own, and I can’t wait to share it with my students.
July 7, 2025
Mary McInerney has written a cheerful and engaging graphic novel for young writers and all writers young at heart. The book reflects some of the questions kids (and adults) have about writing, such as where do ideas come from and how to keep a story going once the initial bright idea has sparked. The author also provides insights into living a writing life and thoughts on the overall creative process.
This would be a great gift for the budding creative writer in your life, or for the adult needing some creative inspiration from a different angle. Recommended! I received an advance galley from Netgalley, which did not influence this review.
This would be a great gift for the budding creative writer in your life, or for the adult needing some creative inspiration from a different angle. Recommended! I received an advance galley from Netgalley, which did not influence this review.
October 28, 2025
I went into reading this thinking it would be a cool way to get my kids writing. I think I was mislead on the premise of the book, which is more about appreciating the creative process than it is about how to write creatively. The illustrations were moving and beautiful, but I would say the book is geared more toward high-schoolers than it is for the middle grade audience I was looking for. Though the illustrations are undeniably beautiful, the actual writing and words left a lot to be desired.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions are entirely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions are entirely my own.
September 2, 2025
Honestly as a writer and as an educator, Creative Writing with Miss Mary Mac was awesome, and I can see this graphic novel being a useful resource with students who struggle to come up with creative ideas. It breaks the writing process down, step by step, with easy to follow suggestions at each stage. And the graphic novel format makes it feel accessible and approachable. Highly recommend! Will definitely use with my own students!
Thank you so much to the publisher for my review copy.
Thank you so much to the publisher for my review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this through NetGalley. I'm not sure why the publication was pushed back to 2027 because it's a wonderful book with gorgeous art.
This is a lovely call to creativity with advice and a few activities. The art complements the text, which is more like poetry. Miss Mary Mac compares creativity of artists, writers, and dancers in a lyrical story with poems by her students. An excellent read for teens who want to actually write but need encouragement.
This is a lovely call to creativity with advice and a few activities. The art complements the text, which is more like poetry. Miss Mary Mac compares creativity of artists, writers, and dancers in a lyrical story with poems by her students. An excellent read for teens who want to actually write but need encouragement.
January 11, 2026
A short and fun graphic novel about writing. Short bites of information about writing. Not a typical how-to, more like an encouragement for younger writers to be. Especially if they aren’t sure about their writing - or whether or not they can or should be writing. I would have liked to see more writing prompts for the students to try.
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for the advanced copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for the advanced copy.
October 28, 2025
What a great concept! A writer's handbook written entirely in a graphic format. Young writers will find this book easy to relate to, simple to act on, and inspiring. Each chapter covers a step in the writing process. If you know a young writer or aspiring writer-get this book into their hands.
Want to read
November 29, 2025Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 7, 2025
This was a great graphic novel. Dedicated to the type of art, us readers probably appreciate the most, the written word.
Throughout the book, the author focuses on giving tips for using all your senses, and just like a musician, a painter, a dancer, make art with everything and anything around you that works to inspire you, the writer.
The illustrations and colors were beautiful and a fantastic element in the book. They are essential imo as in most pages there isn’t a lot of text, the message becomes a bit repetitive, but it serves the purpose of coveying to just write!
I received a digital advance copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Throughout the book, the author focuses on giving tips for using all your senses, and just like a musician, a painter, a dancer, make art with everything and anything around you that works to inspire you, the writer.
The illustrations and colors were beautiful and a fantastic element in the book. They are essential imo as in most pages there isn’t a lot of text, the message becomes a bit repetitive, but it serves the purpose of coveying to just write!
I received a digital advance copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews